Liberty Flags!

Have you ever been to a Liberty event and saw a flag that you were not quite sure what it meant or where it came from? Flags are symbols and convey messages or stories. Today, we’re going to look at some of these flags and the meaning behind them.

GADSDEN FLAG

This flag was designed and named after American General Christopher Gadsden during the American Secession War against England. The rattlesnake was used as a symbol of the colonies for many years before the war and represents vigilance and willingness to defend if attacked.

Today the flag is used by both the Tea Party folks and Libertarians.

A variation of the flag with a black background is known as the “Tactical Gadsden Flag” and is the favorite of this author.

MOULTRIE FLAG

Colonel William Moultrie designed this flag in 1775 in preparation for war with England. He successfully repelled an English invasion of Sullivan’s Island, saving Charleston, South Carolina from occupation. The flag was adopted by the South Carolina Militia and then later by Nathaniel Green and the Continental Army in the South.

This flag is used today by individuals in the liberty movement, primarily in the South.

GONZALEZ or “COME AND TAKE IT” FLAG

The phrase “Come and Take It” can be attributed to Colonel John McIntosh, who commanded Fort Morris near Savannah, Georgia. Defenders of the fort were ordered to surrender by the British in 1778 and offered the refusal. The British declined to attack because of sketchy intelligence of American reinforcements in the area.

The flag was used by Texans in Gonzalez, Texas during the war for independence from Mexico. A lone cannon mounted on top of a blockhouse was the pride of the militia. The flag was created and flown in defiance of Mexico’s demand for surrender.

This phrase has a long history going back to the Battle of Thermopylae. In 480 AD, King Leonidis I of Sparta defiantly responded to Xerxes of Persia “Molon Labe!” which, translated, means “Come and Take!”

The flag today represents defiance and gun ownership. Variations of the flag replaces the cannon with an AK-47, M-16 or AR-15.

MARKET ANARCHY or ANARCHO-CAPITALIST FLAG

Also known as the “Black and Gold” or “Black and Yellow” flag, the black represents Anarchy and the yellow/gold represents physical gold. Gold is a symbol of alternate and competing currencies as well as the Free Market.

This flag and its colors are used frequently to represent Market Anarchy or Anarcho-Capitalism. A variation of the flag includes the Gadsden Rattlesnake and “Don’t Tread on Me” phrase.